Houston may have drowned in bath

Two days before her death, Whitney Houston's demeanour highlighted the fall of one of the world's greatest songbirds.

And on the eve of her death she was still partying hard.

Houston, who ruled as pop music's queen until her majestic voice was ravaged by drug use and her regal image was ruined by erratic behaviour and a tumultuous marriage to singer Bobby Brown, died yesterday, aged 48.

Despite the best efforts of paramedics, Houston was pronounced dead at 3.55pm in her room on the fourth floor of the Beverly Hilton hotel.